Finding Koko

A Wish for Koko by Julie Brinckloe

This book was created as a gift to the Gorilla Foundation.

100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Foundation to help all the Kokos of the World.

Photographs and likenesses of Koko, Penny and Michael © by Ron Cohn and the Gorilla Foundation Koko’s Kitten © by Penny Patterson, Ron Cohn and the Gorilla Foundation

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in whole or in part without prior written consent of Julie Brinckloe and the Gorilla Foundation.

Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office Registration Number TXu 2-131-759 ISBN 978-0-578-51838-1

Printed in the U.S.A.

Thank You

This story needed inspired players to give it authenticity. I found them at La Honda Elementary School, a stone’s throw from where Koko lived her extraordinary life. And I found it in the spirited souls of Stella Machado and her family.

Principal Liz Morgan and teacher Brett Miller embraced Koko with open hearts, and the generous consent of parents paved the way for students to participate in the story.

Ms. Miller’s classroom was the creative, warm place I had envisioned. And her fourth and fifth grade students were the kids I’d crossed my fingers for. They lit up the story with exuberance, inspired by true affection for Koko and her friends.

I thank them all. And following the story they shall all be named.

I thank the San Francisco Zoo for permission to use my photographs taken at the Gorilla Preserve in this book.

I thank Koko’s lifetime photographer, Ron Cohn, for use of his brilliant, treasured photos of Koko, Penny and Michael.

I thank Dr. Gary Stanley, Chief Operating Officer of the Gorilla Foundation, for inspiring me to write this story.

And I thank Dr. Penny Patterson for devoting her radiant life to a gorilla named Koko, whose hands became a voice for all Great Apes by showing the world their bright and noble souls.

When the species learn to share, People of Earth become aware That love and light unite us all… Animal, human, great and small. ~jb

2 Chapter One

I love animals. I always have—and insects, too. But I never knew I would love a gorilla till I met Koko.

One morning at school I opened my backpack and found a little book inside. Momma was always doing that—sneaking something in with my lunch. Something she knew I‟d like.

Daddy did it, too. One day he made my lunch and stuck in a roll of pennies. People drop pennies and leave them. But I pick up every one I see and make a wish. And anyway they add up. My bank is full of them.

I read the cover, “Koko‟s Kitten.” A gorilla was looking down at a little kitten and holding it like a baby.

I couldn‟t believe it. Wouldn‟t a gorilla eat a kitten? Maybe it wasn‟t real. But my cat Collie used to sleep with Digger, my rat. They were best friends—and cats are supposed to eat rats.

Now I wanted to read it. It was hard to wait till lunch.

3 On warm days we eat outside and today it was nice. I sat under the giant tree near the lunch tables. No one came over so I had the whole tree to myself.

The book was by Dr. Francine Patterson. That was Koko‟s friend, Penny. On the first page she wrote, “Other animals are capable of telling us about themselves, if we can find the right way to ask them.”

Right away I liked this book, because it‟s what I believe, too.

Koko the gorilla was born at the zoo on the Fourth of July. She was named Hanabi-Ko, which is Japanese for Fireworks Child. And they called her Koko.

But then she got sick so they put her in the zoo nursery. And that‟s where she met Penny Patterson.

Penny was studying language and learning about gorillas. She learned they‟re smart and

4 have feelings like people. And she believed they could talk to people, too, if they had a way to do it. When Penny met Koko, she knew it was time to try.

So she did something no one had done before. She taught sign language to a gorilla. I looked at the picture of Penny and baby Koko. I could tell she already loved that gorilla.

Koko went to live with Penny and learned over 1,000 signs and 2,000 spoken words. She even made up words of her own.

When Koko shared her thoughts and feelings with Penny, Penny shared them with everyone.

Koko loved picture books. Gorillas and cats most of all. When Penny asked Koko what she wanted for her birthday, Koko signed, “Cat, cat, cat.”

Penny didn‟t know Koko meant a real cat. So when Koko unwrapped a black toy cat, she was so upset she covered it with a rag and threw it in the air.

I knew how Koko felt. Once I asked for a real rabbit for my birthday and got a wind-up one instead. I didn‟t throw it, but I wanted to.

Then one day Koko got her birthday wish. Penny‟s helper came with a litter of kittens and Koko got to choose one. She was so happy she signed, “Love that.”

She gave the kittens her blow test, which was blowing into their faces to learn more about them. Maybe like an interview.

Then she chose a little grey tabby and named him All Ball because he had no tail. She made that up herself.

Koko carried All Ball around like a baby gorilla, and kept him brushed and clean. She made up games called chase, blow-it and tickle. All Ball wasn‟t good at games but he loved to scratch

and bite. Koko told Penny he was “obnoxious.” That was so hilarious I laughed out loud.

6 Someone called over from the lunch tables.

“What‟s so funny?”

“Nothing,” I called back.

Today I didn‟t want to talk. I wanted to read.

Koko never scolded All Ball. She was always gentle and called him, “soft, good cat cat.” She loved All Ball like her own child, and he was never afraid.

Penny wanted to know if gorillas can record things they see. She gave Koko a canvas and paints and asked her to draw All Ball. And Koko did, using all the right colors. Penny got her answer, all right!

Then something terrible happened.

All Ball was hit by a car— and died.

I wasn‟t expecting that. My chest hurt, like it did when Collie died. One day she got sick, and we couldn‟t save her.

Penny had to tell Koko, and Koko cried and cried. She signed, “Sad, cry, frown.” When Collie died, I cried, too.

Later, when Penny asked her what happened to All Ball, Koko signed, “Sleep cat.” She understood what death was. And she signed “blind” because she would never see All Ball again.

People wrote letters to Koko to cheer her up. And one day something wonderful happened. Koko got another kitten! She held him and kissed him, and carried him around like All Ball. And she named him Lipstick.

I know she never forgot All Ball and I won‟t ever forget Collie. But Koko was happy again and so was I, because it was a happy ending.

Chapter Two

I closed the book and looked up into the tree—up through the branches to the sky. Koko would love this tree. It had big green leaves for shade, and sturdy branches for sitting. She could see all over from there.

She could see all over from there.

8 I looked over at the table where kids were eating and laughing.

Koko would love eating lunch with them. Not on the bench—she would never fit. The grass was soft, though. She‟d like that.

I wondered how big she was compared to us.

9 On the playground kids were climbing and swinging and playing tag. Koko could play chase with them all—and tickle, too. Everyone would want to be her friend. Maybe she would even sign to us.

10 What an amazing day it would be if Koko came to visit!

The bell rang and I jumped. I hadn‟t touched my lunch.

I took a huge bite of peanut butter sandwich and a gulp of milk. And ate the rest on my way back to class.

11 That afternoon we had social studies and a spelling quiz, then lined up for the bus. I wanted to tell everyone about Koko, but not today.

It‟s pretty noisy on the bus. Especially on Fridays with the whole weekend ahead. I‟m pretty noisy, too, but not today. I looked through the book and thought about Koko in our school. Maybe it was impossible. But Momma says anything is possible, if you believe.

I hugged her when I got home. “I love the Koko book.”

“I‟m so glad!” she said. “I know how you feel about animals. And Koko is a very special animal.”

“She‟s amazing. I can‟t stop thinking about her.”

I couldn't stop talking about her, either. I talked about Koko all through dinner.

Daddy said, “Are you sure she‟s not a person in a gorilla suit?”

“Koko‟s REAL!” I laughed. I saw him wink.

“She talks with her hands, Daddy. Penny taught her thousands of words. And Koko makes up her own!”

Momma kept saying, “Your dinner‟s getting cold.”

That night I read the book again. It was Friday and I got to stay up later. I thought about Koko and how she loved to play games with Penny. And I thought about All Ball who scratched and bit Koko, but she loved him anyway.

That night I saw her in my dream. She was sitting under a giant green tree in a field that was gold, like wheat. I always dream in colors.

13 Penny was there, too. All Ball was tucked into Koko‟s hip like a baby gorilla. And she and Penny were signing with their hands.

I was very quiet and didn‟t move. I wondered what their hands were saying. Koko put a leaf on her head and Penny laughed. I felt myself laughing, too. Then the dream faded and I woke up in the dark.

I looked up at the stars on my ceiling. Daddy put those up for me. They‟re brightest when I wake up in the night.

I wondered if Koko was awake now. Or if she was asleep and dreaming, and what she dreamed about.

14 Chapter Three

On Saturday morning I got dressed fast and went downstairs. Daddy was pulling on his coveralls to work in the garage.

“Can we go visit Koko?”

“You still thinking about that gorilla?” he laughed.

“Can we?” I asked again.

Daddy shook his head. “I don‟t think she has many visitors,” he said. “Penny doesn‟t want Koko frightened by a bunch of strangers. She‟s Koko‟s mom, you know.”

“I wouldn‟t frighten her, Daddy. I‟d be so quiet. I‟ve never seen a gorilla in my whole life.”

He stopped and looked up. He had an idea, I could tell.

“You know what?” he said. “There‟s a gorilla preserve right in our own zoo. I don‟t see why we can‟t—”

“There is?! Can we go? Can we go now?” I couldn‟t stand still.

Daddy smiled, pulling off his coveralls. “Go ask Momma.”

I bolted for the kitchen. “Mom—Momma! We‟re going to the zoo to see gorillas! You have to come, too!”

“Do I have a choice?” she laughed. “What about breakfast?”

We got breakfast on the way.

At the zoo entrance I checked the picture map and headed straight for the Gorilla Preserve.

They ran to keep up with me.

16 People were there already, so it was hard to see. I worked my way to the railing and read the

sign posted there: Western Lowland Gorilla. The male was called a silverback, because of the silver hair on his back. And he was twice the size of the female.

I looked out and there they were—

a silverback and two females. They looked like Koko!

It was almost as good as seeing her for real.

17 The enclosure was large and grassy, with rocks and a big tree. And there was a small mountain with a tunnel underneath.

I couldn‟t see inside the gorilla house. But the silverback sat in front and watched the two females. Once he turned to look at us. I could feel my heart thumping.

The two females ran around the enclosure on their knuckles, then balanced balls and leaves on their heads. Vegetables were scattered all over.

18 “That‟s their food!” I pointed.

Then one of the females did something amazing. She ran inside the gorilla house and came out again, dragging a blue air mattress behind her. She draped it over her

shoulders, picked some lettuce off the grass and carried it over to the base of the mountain. Then she sat down on the mattress and ate it.

“Look how smart she is!” I said.

We stood there for a while and watched. The silverback looked at me a few times and I could hardly take my eyes off him.

I learned somewhere not to stare at animals because they might feel threatened.

I don‟t like to be stared at, either, so I kept looking away.

19 Then he turned and walked toward the mountain. His back really was silver!

Suddenly a little boy laughed and pointed, “Look at his fat butt!”

Some other people laughed, too. The silverback turned toward us, as if he‟d heard. And another kid yelled, “He‟s staring at us! He‟s mean!”

“Gorillas aren‟t mean,” I said. “And you shouldn‟t say those things. It hurts their feelings.”

“What feelings?” said a little girl. “They‟re dumb animals.”

20 “No, they‟re not. There‟s a gorilla named Koko and she‟s really smart. She talks with her hands and she has feelings, just like us. She can even paint pictures.”

“You‟re making that up,” said the girl.

“No, it‟s true,” I said. “She has her own kitten. You should see how gentle she is.”

I kept talking and a few people seemed interested. One lady said, “I‟ve heard of her. She‟s the gorilla that talks. Everyone loves Koko!”

I felt better then. “Someday I‟ll meet her,” I said.

Then I just watched them. A female climbed into the tree and the silverback sat with his arms crossed, looking up at her. Once he looked over his shoulder, at me.

He was pretty far away, but I thought he looked sad.

After a while Daddy said, “You ready to go?”

We headed for the car. I felt good and bad at the same time.

“Weren‟t they great?” said Daddy. He always said positive things.

“Gorillas are amazing!” I said. “Did you see the one with the air mattress? And the silverback was awesome! But why did people make fun of them?”

“They don‟t know about Koko,” said Momma. “When you learn to love one gorilla, you begin to love them all.”

I understood then why Penny taught Koko to sign. It was to save all gorillas.

Chapter Four

There was still half of Saturday left when we got home.

“I‟m going to the library,” I called out, leaving my coat on the hook.

“Don‟t be gone long,” said Momma. “Lunch soon.”

The library is only a couple blocks from our house. I ran most of the way. The librarian knows me because I go there a lot. Sometimes I check out five books at a time.

“Do you have a book on sign language?” I called out. We‟re supposed to speak in low tones, but today I forgot.

“Shhh,” she smiled. “Are you learning to sign?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Oh, that‟s wonderful! Come with me.”

I followed her to the science shelves and she pulled out a book called, Talk to the Deaf.

“Do you have a friend who‟s deaf?”

“No,” I whispered. “I want to talk to a gorilla.”

She laughed, “To a what?”

Then I told her about Koko and how Penny taught her sign language to prove gorillas are a lot like us. And that we should respect them and not hurt them.

“Oh, I know about Koko!” she said. “Come with me.”

I followed her to the computer bay.

“The Gorilla Foundation has lots of information about Koko and Penny and her gorilla friends. They even have some signs you can learn.”

And there on the screen was Koko‟s face, big as life!

“There she is!” I pointed. “That‟s why I want to learn! I want her to come to my school and teach us about gorillas and—“

I didn‟t finish. Something was wrong. Above her picture were the words,

The Gorilla Foundation is sad to announce the passing of our beloved Koko.

23 I blinked. “Did Koko—die?”

“Oh, I didn‟t know,” said the librarian. “I‟m so sorry!”

Then we read that Koko passed away in her sleep, not long before her birthday. And that she was happy and at peace.

I couldn‟t read any more. “I have to go,” I said, heading for the door.

“Don‟t you want to check out the book?” asked the librarian. “Sign language is a wonderful thing to learn.”

I didn‟t care about the book. I didn‟t care about sign language.

“No, thank you.”

Walking home I looked down at my shoes—left, right, left, right, left, right— and I almost stepped on a penny someone had dropped on the sidewalk.

24 I bent to pick it up, then stopped. What would I wish for now? Koko was gone. I left the penny there and kept walking. Left, right, left, right—

I thought about Penny, raising Koko and teaching her to sign and making people love her. What would she do now? Could she help gorillas without Koko?

Could I?

I went back, picked up the coin and carried it home in my pocket. Maybe it would be good—for something.

Chapter Five

They were shocked when I told them about Koko.

“I know you loved Koko and her story,” said Momma. “This is so sad.”

“She shouldn‟t have died.” I said. “I had plans. Good plans.”

I wanted to run back and forth and bang the walls, like Koko did when she was upset.

25 Daddy was on the computer reading about her. “Koko lived almost forty-seven years,” he said. “That‟s a pretty long life for a gorilla. And Koko had a great life.”

He was trying to help but nothing could. I was too sad even to cry. That‟s the worst kind of sad because you can‟t get rid of it.

“I want to do something but I don‟t know what,” I said after a while.

“You could write Penny a letter,” said Momma.

“She doesn‟t know me. What would I say?”

“You could thank her. She and Koko taught you to love gorillas. If everyone did, they would protect them. Wild gorillas are so endangered, they need to be protected.”

26 That night I couldn‟t sleep. I looked up at the stars on my ceiling. If they were real I‟d find the brightest one and make a wish for Koko. And I would make a wish for all the gorillas in the world.

But Koko was gone and I couldn‟t wish her back. And the stars weren‟t real anyway. But I had to wish for something.

I turned on my lamp and found my lined paper tablet. I need lines or my words go downhill.

I started to write.

27 Dear Penny,

Koko’s Kitten is my favorite book. I love Koko. Thank you for teaching her to sign and giving her a good life. She taught us to love gorillas. I want to save them all now because of Koko. I’m very sad she died. I wish all gorillas were Koko. Then everyone would love gorillas like they love her. And Koko could live forever.

I signed it, Koko’s friend

It needed a stamp and an envelope, and I didn‟t know where to send it. Or if I would send it at all. But I felt better writing it.

Then I remembered the penny I brought home. I dug it out of my pocket and held it in my fist. “Okay,” I said. “I wish all gorillas could be Koko.”

Some wish. Daddy would call it wishing for the moon. But why not wish for the moon, for Koko? Better than stars, even.

I taped the penny on the cover of the book, right over Koko‟s hand. Then I put the letter in my backpack, turned off the light and pulled up the covers. And finally I cried.

Chapter Six

Monday morning I was on the bus when I remembered—my letter! It was still in my backpack, with no stamp and no envelope—and nowhere to send it.

I tried not to think about the letter, or Koko. But the more I tried not to, the more I did. I had to focus on school or I would fail the whole day.

So when I got to my classroom I almost dropped my backpack. My teacher, Mr. Gary, was standing at his desk, with a picture of a gorilla in his hands. And it was Koko!

“Does anyone know who this is?” he asked, holding it up so we all could see.

My hand shot up.

“That‟s Koko! I read a story about her!”

29 My heart was thumping like it did at the zoo. I wanted to tell everyone about Koko and All Ball and Penny.

Mr. Gary doesn‟t call on me much, because I‟m always raising my hand. He looks around the room and says, “Someone else?” But today he pointed right at me.

“Tell us the story,” he said.

So I did.

I told them that Penny believed gorillas have feelings like us, and can share them if we know how to ask.

I told them how she met Koko and taught her sign language so Koko could talk. And that she and Koko were teaching the world about gorillas so they could save them.

I told them about how Koko got a real kitten and named him All Ball because he had no tail. And how she was gentle even when he would scratch and bite her. And that she loved All Ball like her real child.

I told them how Koko played games and tricks, and painted pictures using all the right colors. And how she cried when All Ball died.

But I didn‟t tell them Koko died, too. I couldn‟t say the words.

Mr. Gary smiled at me. “Thanks for introducing us to Koko,” he said. “I planned to do it soon, so you could all learn about this amazing gorilla. But we‟ll start today.”

31 He showed us a movie called, A Conversation with Koko. And I almost jumped out of my seat because there they were—Koko and Penny and All Ball, just like in the book! I didn‟t want it to end.

After the movie everyone was talking about Koko. They wanted to know where she lived and if we could go see her.

Mr. Gary had to tell them. Finally he did.

32 “We‟re learning about Koko today because sadly, she just passed away.”

The whole class said, “No!” Then it got quiet.

The shy boy who hardly ever talks said, “Was Koko afraid?”

Mr. Gary shook his head.

“Koko was not afraid. She was very brave and very wise. When Penny asked her what it meant to die, Koko signed, „Comfortable hole. Kiss bye.‟”

“But won‟t Penny be sad?”

It was the shy boy again. He wasn‟t shy today.

33 “Penny is very sad,” said Mr. Gary. “She loved Koko. And Koko loved her, too.”

“I wrote her a letter,” I said. “It‟s in my backpack.”

He asked me to read it to the class. When I finished, Mr. Gary said, “Will you read your wish again?”

I didn‟t want to. It sounded silly now.

“I wish all gorillas were Koko. Then everyone would love gorillas like they love her. And Koko could live forever.”

He wrote across the whiteboard in bold letters,

ALL GORILLAS ARE KOKO

There it was, scrawled across the board—my wish. Wishing for the moon. What was I thinking?

“Penny and Koko taught people that all gorillas are smart,” said Mr. Gary. “And they‟re gentle and loving. They can be funny and talented—and mischievous, just like Koko. And more like us than we ever knew.”

34 Suddenly I smiled and raised my hand. “Then all gorillas can learn sign language, right?”

“Right!” said Mr. Gary. “Penny believed it—and proved it. She taught Koko‟s friend Michael to sign. Koko taught him, too. And Koko signed to her friend, Ndume. If they could learn, why not all gorillas?”

It got noisy then. We were even laughing because it was crazy to think about— talking to gorillas!

But I believed it. Momma was right.

Mr. Gary put up his hands and we got quiet.

“This is the most exciting part,” he said. “Right here in our own zoo, gorillas are learning to sign like Koko. Then they can talk to zookeepers, and to doctors, and to kids like you—if you learn how to talk to them.”

My mouth dropped open. In the zoo? Our zoo?

“So who wants to sign like Koko?” said Mr. Gary.

Every hand shot up. Mine, too. Both hands.

36 Chapter Seven

The morning went by fast. Mr. Gary showed us some Koko signs and then told us to practice. We signed HUNGRY and BROWSE, and EAT and DRINK and KOKO-LOVE…

KOKO-LOVE was my favorite sign. Koko crossed her arms in front for LOVE and then tapped her left shoulder for KOKO.

37 Then it got crazy and we made up words of our own. But at least we were learning.

“You‟re catching on fast,” said Mr. Gary. “So did Koko. She made up words of her own, too, from the signs she knew.”

He told us that Penny gave Koko a ring to wear, and Koko didn‟t know a sign for ring. But she knew the signs for bracelet and finger. So she called it finger bracelet. Because that‟s just what it was.

“She was one smart Koko!” he said.

At recess we played chase and tickle. Then we combined it like Koko and called it, tickle-chase. I hate to be tickled but I‟m a fast runner.

In the afternoon, Mr. Gary told us about the Gorilla Foundation. He passed around magazines and signing posters.

Then he wrote on the board, koko.org.

“Can everyone remember that?” he asked.

We would never forget it.

“That‟s where we‟ll learn more about Koko and her friends, and how they‟re working to save gorillas. There‟s a special section called Koko4Kids, just for you. So tonight you can visit koko.org. Tomorrow we‟ll talk more about Koko, and how you can help gorillas everywhere.”

Our last class of the day was art.

I love art anyway and today we got to paint like Koko. We didn‟t have All Ball, so Mr. Gary sat on his desk and let us paint pictures of him.

“Just think like Koko,” he said. “Try to use all the right colors.”

40 41

42 It was the best art class ever. We laughed because Mr. Gary looked pretty funny in the paintings. But he didn‟t mind.

“Did you think like Koko?” he asked. We tried.

I liked my painting, even though it looked more like me than Mr. Gary. It‟s on my wall and reminds me of Koko. I think she would like it, too.

The bell rang and we cleaned up to leave. I couldn‟t wait to get home and visit koko.org. But Mr. Gary asked me to stay behind for a minute.

“I was impressed with your knowledge of Koko,” he said. “And your wish to Penny. It‟s her wish, too, you know.”

My face felt hot. I guess I knew.

“If you leave your letter, I‟ll be sure she gets it.”

43 I handed him the letter. “And one more thing,” he said.

“Our zoo is part of a new program teaching student volunteers to sign to gorillas, like Penny signed to Koko. I‟m a volunteer leader and I can tell you love Koko. So what do you say? Want to volunteer?”

What did I say?? “Yes, Mr. Gary!”

I know I rode the bus home, but the only part I remember is getting off at my stop and running all the way to my house.

Chapter Eight

It didn‟t happen right away. Mr. Gary gave me a sheet of words to learn, and pictures of how to make signs for them. Momma helped me fill out a form to hand in. Then I had to wait. It‟s so hard to wait for things you want to happen right away.

I practiced signing to myself, every chance I got. I signed at breakfast and at lunch: HUNGRY, THIRSTY, EAT, DRINK. I signed on the bus and at my desk and in my room—GOOD and BABY and GORILLA and KOKO- LOVE. At recess I signed to my friends.

At night in bed I signed in the dark. And thought about the day I would talk to a gorilla, face to face.

I wondered if that day would ever come.

44 Finally we got a call from the zoo. “They‟ve accepted you!” said Daddy. “How about that!”

We met early on a Saturday morning, near the zoo entrance. The sign on the door said, EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS ONLY, so right away I felt special.

There were three other kids and their parents in the room, and a big screen. A zookeeper was there, and Mr. Gary. We saw a film about gorillas and where they live in the wild. It told us they‟re endangered because people don‟t understand how important they are.

I wondered why all the spoken words were also on the screen.

It talked about Penny and Koko, and showed them signing to each other and to Michael and Ndume. Then it showed a doctor signing to a gorilla in a zoo. That was our zoo!

45 Finally it showed a boy our age signing to a gorilla. He wore a shirt that said, Kids4Koko, with a painting of her face on the front.

I read the words on the screen:

Our student volunteers are part of a bold new program inspired by Penny and Koko. These young people will sign to gorillas in captivity, sharing what Koko taught us about all gorillas.

I looked around the room. They were talking about us!

After the film we practiced signing to each other. I knew the signs on the sheet, but one boy signed so fast I couldn‟t keep up.

Then I found out he was deaf.

46 That‟s why the words were on the screen. They were for the volunteers who were deaf. Deaf people have to learn hundreds of signs. Thousands, maybe. And it took me a week just to learn a few.

I would get better at this. Then I could talk to deaf people, too. Maybe I would check out that book after all.

47 After that we all got Kids4Koko T-shirts. They were incredible. We put them on right away and I felt so proud. Mom and Dad were proud, too.

“You‟re one of Koko‟s kids now!” said Momma.

“You kind of look like a gorilla,” said Daddy.

I beat my chest for him. Then we all beat our chests—we were Kids4Koko now!

Mr. Gary passed around giant apricots dipped in chocolate. “Penny made these,” he said. “They were Koko‟s favorite treat.”

They were so good. I ate two and wanted more.

48 We didn‟t sign to gorillas that day. We weren‟t ready. Mr. Gary said the gorillas weren‟t ready, either. But soon they would be. They told us to practice our signs, and to wait for the call.

When the call finally came it suddenly got real. I didn‟t say how nervous I was. Or how I was beginning to dread it.

Chapter Nine

Early on a Saturday morning we met in the volunteer room. The other kids weren‟t there yet. Mr. Gary said we were going one at a time and they would come later. I started to feel sick. What if I made the signs wrong? What if I scared the gorilla? What if she didn‟t like me?

But it was too late. They called me.

I followed Momma, Daddy and Mr. Gary to the Gorilla preserve. The last time at the zoo we were up on a hill, looking down at them.

Now we were level with the ground. On the other side of the window was the enclosure.

I sat in a chair and folded my hands in my lap. The enclosure looked different from here. I looked around but didn‟t see any gorillas.

49 Mr. Gary knelt beside me. “You okay?” he whispered.

“Yes,” I said. My heart was pounding.

I waited. A bird landed in the grass and pecked at something, then flew away. Another bird landed and carried something off into the tree.

The zoo wasn‟t open yet so it was quiet. Nothing was happening. It was hard to believe this was real.

Suddenly I heard someone calling from across the enclosure, “Mimi!”

“That‟s one of the caregivers,” said Mr. Gary. “He‟s calling Mimi to come out of the gorilla house. She knows her name.”

He called out again, “Mimi!” I held my breath. A female gorilla came through the doorway and looked over to where the caregiver stood. She watched as he signed to her.

50 “He just said, ’Come, meet a new friend,’” Mr. Gary whispered.

Mimi signed back, “Friend, good.” I knew those signs!

She looked all around the enclosure and over to us. Then she walked toward us and sat on the ground, right on the other side of the glass. Mimi put her hands in her lap and looked into my eyes.

And there we were, face to face. I was going to talk to a gorilla. And maybe she would talk to me. I could hardly breathe.

“Should I start?” I whispered, trying not to move my lips.

“Don‟t rush it,” Mr. Gary whispered back. “You want to put her at ease. Give her a big smile and look friendly.”

My heart was pounding so hard but somehow I gave her a big smile. I almost laughed but held it in. I smiled with my eyes, too. She blinked and looked away. Then another gorilla came out of the house and walked toward us. It was the silverback! He sat over near the tree, folded his arms and watched. Like he did that first time I saw him, watching the females play.

Did he remember me? Would I be able to ask him? What was he thinking?

Mr. Gary could tell I was nervous. “The silverback is curious and protective,” he said. “Just focus on Mimi. Talk to her. He‟ll enjoy it.”

51 Suddenly my mind went blank. I forgot every sign I knew—every one I‟d practiced a hundred times. I looked down at my hands and couldn‟t move. I couldn‟t breathe. I was afraid.

But something made me look up—right into Mimi‟s eyes. They were small and reddish brown, with tiny dots of light in the middle. They looked like—Koko‟s eyes.

Then everything got clear and I wasn‟t afraid anymore. I lifted my hands, crossed them over my chest. And I patted my left shoulder, three times.

“Love Koko, Koko, Koko.”

Mimi looked at her hands, as if she was seeing them for the first time. Then slowly she lifted them and crossed them over her chest.

And she patted her left shoulder—three times.

Somewhere behind me I heard Momma gasp. Daddy whispered, “Well, I‟ll be darned.”

53 Mr. Gary whispered, “You did it!”

My heart leaped. I wanted to jump up and throw my arms in the air and yell out loud, “I signed to a gorilla and she signed back!”

But I didn‟t move.

The silverback stood on his feet. His mouth was open, and he was smiling.

Then he put his hand to his mouth and signed, “Good.”

54 Mimi looked into my eyes and I looked into hers.

And I heard myself whisper, “Koko…”

The Pllayers

Brett Miillller’’s Fourth and Fiifth Grade Cllass La Honda Ellementary Schooll

Stella Machado Bailey Gunning Hayley Kleinheinz Calvin (Kai) Kung Brett Miller Cole Giannini Wyatt Attard Grace Angelini Miles Guy Allen Marks Avry White Mason Rice Marco Martinucci David Nelson Lane Giannini Cassidy Brians Lucas (Luke) Pimentel Gabriel (Gabi) Carmona Quill Markegard Mackenzie Rice Ian Ehrhardt Zachary Briggs Paola Amezcua Dylan Modena

Stella Machado lives with her family in La Honda, California. She is a fifth-grader in Ms. Brett Miller‟s class at La Honda Elementary School and a member of the 4-H Club. She is also a skilled baker.

The sensitivity she brought to the girl in this story is real. Stella and her classmates, her teacher, “Mr. Gary” Stanley and her own real family walked through the pages and gave them light.

The Machado Family Stella with Kim and Rodney (Momma and Daddy) And Ollie and Maddie (Zoo Kids and Signing Volunteers)

Stella Machado with teacher Brett Miller (the Librarian) and classmate Wyatt Attard (the Deaf Signing Volunteer)

Stella with Dr. Gary Stanley (Mr. Gary), Chief Operating Officer of the Gorilla Foundation

The artist who painted the Kids4Koko T-shirt is Chaz Neyman, a fourth-grader who lives with his family in Draper, Utah. He loved penguins when he learned about Koko. Now he loves gorillas, too. And he created a beautiful tribute to her.

“I wanted to capture Koko‟s spirit on paper,” he said. “I think it will get more people to support gorillas and to learn more about Koko.”

Special thanks to the wonderful team at UberPrints, who devoted time, effort and expense to print shirts that faithfully reproduced the sensitive artwork. 59 Their hearts are with Koko, too.

“Good.”